Curious Old Brass Wood Splitting Man Folk Art Match Holder (?) wooden bases 7 3/4" across at lip

7 3/4" across at lip

but I am pretty certain they are French

it's also very nicely constructed and substantial

British and early 20th century I believe

Curious Old Brass Wood Splitting Man Folk Art Match Holder (?) wooden bases 7 3/4" across at lipIt was suggested to me when I purchased this that it was a piece of trench art, and I think that it likely, with the canister made from a shell casing and the little chopping man cut from from some scrap. In any case, it's certainly it's own special folk art thing, and I really love this smiling but very focused looking fellow very intent on the task at hand, which looks to me to be splitting a piece of wood. Incised on both sides, and serving as a